Template-directed materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Extensive research activities have been directed to develop flexible rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with large capacity, high power, and long cycling life. Template technology offers the benefits in terms of either designing new-type electrode materials or modifying traditional battery configurations. With the aid of "hard" or "soft" templates, a variety of functional materials with diverse structures and morphologies such as one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, 2D films, and 3D porous frameworks have been synthesized. This review highlights the recent progress in the template-prepared electrode materials for lithium storage, mainly focusing on the Li+ intercalation reactions and the Li conversion properties with the nanostructures of LiCoO2, C, SnO2, Fe2O3, Co3O4, VOx, and MnO2. In some specifically demonstrated examples, the templated cathode materials (e.g., lithium metal oxides) show significantly improved reversibility and high rate capability over a voltage of 3 V after 100 cycles, whereas the templated anode materials (e.g., metal oxides) can deliver high capacity exceeding 1000 mA h g(-1). The structural and morphological merits of the template-directed materials have been especially addressed in comparison with their traditional bulk forms.